Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Winters in Gainsborough were frigid. The city blanketed in snow so thick that the skyline was unrecognizable from afar.
However, not even harsh weather could get in the way of Adventurers.
Day in and day out, groups upon groups of adventurers set off for the Forest of Slumber in the east.
“Phew ~”
George shook off the thin layer of snow on his steel pauldron. He tightened the grip on his spear and continued his trek into the depths of the forest.
“This place is colder than I thought. Do you really think that thing is here?”
Standing beside George was a blonde girl wrapped up in layers. She was very pretty; looking adorable even in thick, unflattering layers.
The girl’s name was Celia. She and George, a young knight, had formed an adventurer’s party together.
Celia compared the surrounding terrain to what was on the map in her hand. Trying to determine her and George’s current location.
Upon hearing George’s question, Celia did not answer immediately. Instead, she took out a white candle and placed it in a small tree hole.
A ring of magic appeared below the white candle the instant it touched the tree.
Under the effects of magic, the bottom of the candle began to melt and fuse with the tree.
Then, a gentle light emerged from the tip of the candle.
The Candle of Eternal Light was a magic tool that provided light in the wilderness by fusing with trees. They could also be used to mark trails.
Such candles were quite popular among adventurers.
After marking their trail, Celia looked at George and said,
“According to the information provided, the cave where the target is is just up ahead.”
“A fruit that can give people supernatural abilities. Does such a thing really exist?”
“I’ve never heard of it before. Do you think we’ve been tricked?” George said, recalling the information they were given.
Upon hearing his words, Celia too became a little uncertain.
The Fruit of Gifts, that was George and Celia’s purpose for this trip.
Rumor had it that it was a fruit that could transform even an ordinary person, and change their fate.
However, rumors were just that, rumors. No one could be sure if these fruits truly existed.
After all, no one had seen them before.
Despite that, every year, fake news about this fruit would spread.
This was also why George and Celia might have been fooled.
“This forest is the starting point for many adventurers. Because of that, it’s been explored by countless people. If The Fruit of Gifts really existed, someone would have found it a long time ago.”
George’s words were reasonable, but considering the person who gave the news…
“I know, but we’ve been working with them for so many years now. They may be bad with pay at times, but I doubt they’d actually try to trick us,” said Celia.
“That’s hard to say.”
Recalling how his life ended in his previous world, a complicated expression flitted across George’s face.
Sometimes, a person could be more ruthless because they are close to you.
George had a secret. He was a transmigrator.
His soul came from another world.
And when his life in that world came to an end, he opened his eyes only to find himself in this new one. Welcoming his second life.
However, George didn’t tell Celia any of this.
Some secrets were best left buried, forever.
Noticing that George had all of a sudden fallen silent with a heavy expression, Celia assumed that he was worried. She quickly walked up to him and looped her arms around his and said,
“Hey, it doesn’t matter even if this lead turns out to be fake. If it is, we’ll just treat this as a vacation trip!”
Walking along the tree-lined trail in the Forest of Slumber, Celia felt as if she had returned to her childhood.
This place was also the starting point for her and George.
At that time, both of them had just begun adventuring and were clueless about everything. But many interesting things also happened because of that.
Amidst her light footsteps, hints of reminiscence and nostalgia seeped into Selia’s eyes. She could not help but lament,
“Time flies huh. In the blink of an eye, seven years have passed. But this place hasn’t changed at all.”
The forest that they had to tip-toe through back then was now like their own backyard.
It could be said that this place had witnessed their growth.
George nodded, but just as he was about to respond, a wolf howled in the distance.
“Ah-whoo~”
Along with the Wolf King’s howl, several gray wolves appeared before them.
The wolves glared at George and Celia with murderous glints in their eyes.
“The wolves are here! How nostalgic!”
Watching the wolf pack emerge from the bushes, George suddenly recalled something. “Do you still remember the first time we encountered the wolves, Celia? You tried so hard to pretend to be calm. Even though you were so scared that you were about to cry,” he turned to Celia and teased.
Hearing George’s words, Celia too recalled her past self. Instead of becoming embarrassed however, she retorted with her arms crossed and chin raised,
“I wasn’t afraid! The wind was just too strong back then and sand got into my eye!”
“If you say so!”
With a chuckle, George moved to shield Celia behind him. The spear in his hands began to glow with fluorescent light.
“Since the prey came knocking on our door, it’s alright for us to take a break to deal with them right?”
Eying the wolves, George’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he licked his lips and swallowed in anticipation. The upturn of his lips belied his excitement.
Celia was unfazed by George’s reaction. In fact, she had expected this the moment the wolves appeared.
Taking a quick glance at the map in her hand, Celia ran over their plan in her head and calculated the time.
“Alright, let’s take a break then,”
Celia agreed after confirming that they had plenty of time.
The two of them were no longer rookies. Regular beasts like these were no longer a threat to them.
“One, two, three… seven total?”
George looked reproachful, seemingly dissatisfied by the number of wolves.
“That’s too few! Totally not enough for a meal!”
At that, George pushed off with both legs and charged towards the wolves, spear in hand.
The moment his feet left the ground, George vanished from the wolves’ sight.
They were but regular wolves. They couldn’t even see George’s movements as he attacked.
All they saw was darkness when George reappeared next to them.
By the time the wolves could react, George was already pulling his spear from their dead bodies.
By the time Selia had set up the iron pot and gotten everything ready, George had also finished cleaning up the wolves’ bodies.
Putting away the hunting knife, George sat down to rest.
What came next was Celia’s job..